By Council Members Richards, Salamanca, Cohen, Constantinides, Rosenthal, Gentile, Kallos and Menchaca

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating an office of alternative energy

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Section 28-103.27 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 188 for the year 2017, is renumbered as section 28-103.30.

§ 2. Article 103 of chapter 1 of title 28 of the New York city administrative code is amended by adding a new section 28-103.31 to read as follows:

§ 28-103.31 Office of alternative energy. There is hereby established within the department an office of alternative energy.

§ 28-103.31.1 Definition. As used in this section, the term “alternative energy project” means construction work on a building, as such term is defined in section 28-101.5 of the administrative code, that will result in such building having at least 50 kilowatts of alternative energy capacity installed onsite from:

1. A qualified energy resource, as such term is defined in section 45 of title 26 of the United States code; or

2. A source that is determined to be renewable by the commissioner or the head of another agency designated by the mayor.

§ 28-103.31.2 Duties of the office of alternative energy. The duties of the office of alternative energy include, but need not be limited to:

1. Establishing a program to (i) assist with the technical review and approval of applications and other documents submitted to the department in connection with alternative energy projects, (ii) provide guidance to applicants in connection with such projects, (iii) support technical research for advancing energy legislation and policy within the city and (iv) receive and respond to comments, questions and complaints with respect to such program;

2. Coordinating with the office of long-term planning and sustainability, fire department, department of small business services, department of housing preservation and development, and other relevant agencies to ensure that policies are in place to encourage the installation and maintenance of alternative energy projects, and seeking cooperation and assistance from the city university of New York with respect to such policies; and

3. Making recommendations to the commissioner and the heads of other agencies with respect to streamlining the process for obtaining the necessary approvals to install and maintain alternative energy projects.

§ 28-103.31.3 Reporting. The head of the office of the alternative energy shall submit an annual report to the commissioner and to the head of any other relevant agency providing (i) a description of the most commonly received comments, questions and complaints received with respect to such office, (ii) a description of actions undertaken by such office to coordinate with other agencies and the results of such coordination, (iii) recommendations made pursuant to section 28-103.31.2 and (iv) recommendations with respect to expanding the definition of alternative energy project. By no later than three months after the end of each fiscal year, such office shall submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the city council that includes a summary of the actions taken by any agency as a result of any comment, question, complaint or recommendation from or forwarded by such office.

§ 28-103.31.4 Posting of information. The office of alternative energy shall maintain a website and shall post on such website the contact information for such office and a statement indicating that any person may contact such office if such person has a comment, question or complaint with respect to such office.

§ 3. This local law takes effect one year after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of buildings may take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such effective date.